By Buzz18, September 19, 2008 - 15:05 IST
Welcome to Sajjanpur totally rests upon Shreyas Talpade's shoulders. The actor's comic timing is getting better with each film and it's his performance that makes up for the film's many flaws. Seen in almost every frame of the film Shreyas is the hero of the enterprise in every sense of the word...
By Sify, September 20, 2008 - 10:06 IST
Through the lives of the Sajjanpur people, director Shyam Benegal makes a statement about contemporary rural India. Where there is electricity but “22 hours of load-shedding”. Where children are sent to school but yanked out on the smallest of excuses. Where superstition and modernism are fighting for their place, and the people don’t know which to choose.
By Now Running, September 20, 2008 - 10:19 IST
The film is a social satire set in a quaint North Indian village with its unique bunch of colorful characters- or as many may argue- caricatures.
By Now Running, September 20, 2008 - 10:20 IST
Welcome to Sajjanpur stands out for its simplicity and its characters with whom you can easily connect and relate to. The movie doesn't have a strong plot, no glam and no action either. But the way each character and the life and sensitivity of the characters is portrayed makes it worth a dekho on the big screen.
By Rediff, September 19, 2008 - 14:51 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful Benegal's films have always echoed our society's ongoing frame of mind. And so the first few scenes itself, frothily written by Ashok Mishra, establish the political, social or cultural scenario that keeps breaking news on channels...
By Zee News, September 20, 2008 - 09:54 IST
'Welcome...' is not heavy on your mind, despite the ample drama. It is instead subtle as everything is presented without going overboard.
By Hindustan Times, September 20, 2008 - 09:56 IST
Socially concerned as always, Benegal articulates several points. Take widow remarriage which culminates in a tragedy and is so resonant of today’s headlines. In Sajjanpur, also enter and exit, a headstrong scooter-riding girl, the gangster-like politician, and heavens, even a group of eunuchs out to contest the elections and assert that they’re human too.
By Apunkachoice, September 20, 2008 - 09:58 IST
In such a colourful melee of characters unravels not just the story of coming of age of the protagonist, but also touching tales of each character. Some of these tales end on a tragic note, even though the film’s denouement is optimistic.
By Indiaglitz, September 20, 2008 - 10:03 IST
The film has nothing indeed to do with unique ideas, but what makes the film so especial are the personations contrived by auteur. With Bollywood films drenched with bloodbath and profane storylines, Sajjanpur welcomes you for a different tour of a great alleviation as it doesn't carry any of these attributes.
By DNA India, September 19, 2008 - 12:13 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful Shyam Benegal, who promised Welcome to Sajjanpur to be a political satire and a romantic comedy at the same time, manages to do justice to both aspects of the film. The veteran shows deftness in both the emotional scenes, which is his forte, and the comic scenes, extracting great performances from the entire cast.
By Filmfare / Times of India / Indiatimes, September 20, 2008 - 09:40 IST
Shyam Benegal also has a strong and subtle hold on humour which arrives in his film through spontaneity and slice of life situations. Notably he has a restrained control of not stretching the humour beyond its expiry date, so very lacking in today’s self-proclaimed comedy-kings.
By Indya, September 20, 2008 - 09:42 IST
The language is slightly hard to understand; you get the gist of the dialogue but not every line. There are plenty of jokes on politicians. On the whole Indian village life has been realistically portrayed, including politics, illiteracy, discrimination and superstition.
By AOL, September 20, 2008 - 09:44 IST
Welcome to Sajjanpur is Shreyas Talpade's film. His comic timing is awesome. The entire film is carried on his shoulders. He has kept a striking balance of the serious and the comical elements of the film. The scene where he delivers a speech imitating Shah Rukh Khan is really commendable.
By Ibnlive, September 20, 2008 - 09:38 IST
Welcome To Sajjanpur is one of Benegal's most evocative films, what a fine job he does of lacing it with social consciousness. The film dwells on relevant issues like widow remarriage, caste politics and superstition, but it's weaved intrinsically into the film's plot.
